“Health activists are right to draw attention to this grossly unfair situation. (Covid-19 vaccine deals) But the far bigger scandal is that the Health Department squandered the opportunity after spending an estimated R14-bn on Covid-19 jabs and belatedly filling its warehouses with enough doses to vaccinate the nation” – Business Day (7 September 2023).
Less than 40% of the population has been immunised, the once-integral private sector has been entirely shut out, and SA’s vaccination programme has virtually ground to a halt. Not only does this dismal performance leave SA facing the prospect of having to destroy millions of doses of expired vaccines, but it also poses the genuine risk that the next time health officials ask the Treasury for money for Covid-19 vaccines, they will be shown the door.”